Last updated: May 10, 2021
St Margaret’s Hospice Care is on the search for hikers with the grit and determination to take on the highest peaks in the UK while raising vital funds to care for people in Somerset.
The charity is looking for more members to take part in its Three Peaks Challenge, which will see a group of supporters embark on the challenge of a lifetime in September. Their aim will be to scale Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
The non-stop Three Peaks Challenge starts on Friday, September 10 when the group will meet at Chester Station and travel to Fort William in Scotland by road.
Rising early the next day, they will climb Ben Nevis before travelling straight to Wasdale in the Lake District for dinner before trekking to the summit of Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak.
After descending in darkness, they will catch some sleep on the drive to Snowdonia in Wales, where they will climb Mount Snowdon on Sunday, September 12, with group photos and celebrations at the top. The hardy fundraisers will walk around 28 miles and ascend to a total height of almost 3,000 metres, as they aim to climb all three peaks in a total trekking time of 15 hours or less over the two days.
Hollie Cashmore, head of Marketing and Communications at St Margaret’s Hospice Care, is among the hikers who will be taking on the gruelling challenge later this year.
She was inspired to raise funds for the hospice by her godmother, Christine (Tine), who had terminal cancer and was cared for by staff at St Margaret’s before she died in 2020.
Hollie said: “In November last year my wonderful godmother, Auntie Tine, died under the loving care of St Margaret’s and in the months leading up to her death I really saw what a difference the hospice makes.
“Back in November 2019 we got the news that there was nothing more they could do for Tine. St Margaret’s got involved straight away and one of our community nurses went to the house and made sure they knew where to get the help if they needed it.
“It was the perfect balance, while Tine was feeling well, she didn’t want to be reminded every two minutes that this may be short-lived, she just wanted to carry on as normal for as long as she could. When the time came that things did start to change, it was seamless.
“In September 2020 things were moving quickly and it was hard to watch as her symptoms started to take hold, that’s when St Margaret’s suggested some time at the hospice. I’ll be honest she seemed so poorly that I thought that was it but within days the doctors and nursing staff had improved the symptoms that were making her so poorly and a week later we were sat in her living room!
“Tine was her usual self, we talked, gossiped and laughed. For me it was such a humbling experience as the very people she was talking about, that had worked so compassionately so she could enjoy her last few weeks, I knew.
“When it was time to go back to the hospice it was different, we knew that all our afternoons sitting in the living room with the sun streaming in were over but Tine was comfortable. She was thankful to be back with the people who helped her as she knew no matter what was coming she’d feel safe and that Uncle Adrian would have the support he needed.”
Hollie has worked at St Margaret’s for six years and said over that time she has ‘witnessed the love, care and support the teams offer to thousands of people across Somerset each year.’
Hollie (centre) with Joy and Hilary, more of our wonderful National Three Peaks Challenge participants
She said she would encourage people to take part in the challenge to support the hospice and help them continue to care for patients and their families who are facing a life limiting illness in Somerset.
“I find it hard to explain quite how much love and appreciation I have for the hospice. I know there are a lot of asks out there, I know we are all facing challenging times as coronavirus continues to cause grief, loss and uncertainty but the care and support St Margaret’s gave to Tine, Uncle Adrian and myself isn’t a one off,” Hollie said.
“It didn’t happen because of luck, it happened because 365 days a year, through a pandemic or not St Margaret’s is there, there for thousands of people, there for patients, there for families, there for you.
“We are on the search for more people to join us on this trek so if you fancy taking on a challenge and supporting the hospice please book your place and join us on this amazing adventure.”
Interested in taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge for St Margaret's this September?
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO BOOK YOUR PLACE